Strong Pitching and Dramatic Walkoff Win Leads Centenary to Sweep of Rosemont

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HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.  Anthony Vassallo scored with one-out in the bottom of the seventh as the Centenary University baseball team got a comeback, walkoff game two win to complete a sweep of Rosemont College on Friday afternoon at Our Diamond of Dreams.

Nick Guiro tossed a complete game shutout in game one as the Cyclones claimed the 13-0 win. Centenary trailed 10-5 in game two before the Cyclones rallied for the 11-10 victory.

Game One Recap (Centenary Won 13-0):
Centenary got the scoring started in this one with a run in the bottom of the second. Vassallo lifted a sac fly to right that scored Brandon Smith.

The Cyclones pushed their lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third. Smith had an RBI groundout before Nicholas Grifone drew a bases loaded walk to plate a run.

Centenary put four runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth which extended its advantage to 7-0.

The Cyclones capped the scoring with six runs in the bottom of the sixth which made it a 13-0 game. The big blows in that inning came off the bat of Grifone, who had an RBI double and Vassallo, whose double to left plated two runs.

While the Centenary offense was cooking at the plate, Guiro shut down Ravens' bats. The sophomore right hander limited Rosemont to just four hits and one walk. Guiro did not allow a runner to reach second base until the seventh inning after the Cyclones had the game in hand.

Guiro moved to 3-0 with the win. It was his second complete game of the season and first career shutout. Rob Lucas took the loss for Rosemont after giving up three runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Christopher Gass was 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored for the Cyclones. Vassallo finished with a hit, three RBIs and two runs scored while Grifone had a hit and two RBIs.

Game Two Recap (Centenary Won 11-10):
The Cyclones jumped out to a 5-0 advantage after two innings in game two. Jon Fleck delivered an RBI single and came around to score on Jake Corropolese's sac fly. Gass added a two-run single in that stretch for the home team.

Rosemont got one back in the top of the third and tacked on four runs in the top of the fourth, which tied the game at 5-5.

The Ravens weren't done yet as they scored five times in the top of the sixth for a 10-5 advantage. Luke Franklin and Derek Shillingsford each had a two-run single in that inning for Rosemont.

Centenary wasn't done yet as Vassallo launched a home run to left leading off the bottom of the sixth. Later in the frame, Nicholas Gattuso scored on a wild pitch and after stealing third Chase Johnson crossed the plate on a Ravens' error. The Cyclones headed to the seventh inning trailing 10-8.

Anthony Ranaudo was able to shut the Ravens down in order in the top of seventh and gave the Cyclones one more chance.

The first two batters reached to start the frame for the home team. Zach Revuelta then delivered a perfectly placed bunt which allowed the runners to move to second and third. A passed ball allowed pinch-runner Miron Miller to score which pulled the Cyclones to within one, 10-9.

Vassallo walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Gattuso then dropped a single to center which scored pinch-runner CJ White with the game-tying run. The next batter, Paul Links delivered a single to right that scored Vassallo with the game-winning run.

Ranaudo picked up his second win of the season after a scoreless seventh inning.

Vassallo finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored for the Cyclones. Gattuso was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Links was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Franklin went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored for Rosemont.

Due to the wet weather predicted for the area on Saturday, Centenary has moved its Mt. St. Vincent game to Sunday, March 20. It will now become a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. at Our Diamond of Dreams.